FREE: a very large, hungry dog

This is going around the Internet. Supposedly a real ad that ran in Colorado:

FREE to an approved home. Excellent guard dog, loves other small-dog breeds. Answers to the name of Dolly. Will eat anything, owner cannot afford to feed her anymore, as there are no more kids, thieves, murderers, rapists or molesters left in the neighborhood. Your help will be appreciated ...

According to Snopes this looks like it could be a real classified ad combined with a picture that was not part of the original ad.

The picture has probably not been Photoshopped. The dog is a Mastiff. Males can weigh well over 200 pounds. Mastiffs are the heaviest of all dog breeds. They were bred to guard livestock.

And, yes, Mastiffs have enormous appetites. A dog this size can become a way of life and unfortunately many people realize too late what is involved in its care and then try to find new homes for them. They are majestic, gentle dogs, but few people today need to have their livestock guarded.

Anyone who wants a Mastiff should do careful research to know exactly what they’re getting into in terms of food, exercise, obedience training, housing, breakage, liability insurance, sleeping arrangements, alpha dogdom, shattered relationships…

Getting a Mastiff just because of the status or prestige of having the biggest dog is not being fair to the dog (and, yes, this could be a phallic reference).

Comments

[Tony]

After that phallic remark I wont even tell you why I got a pekinese.

[I was Trailer Trash when Trailer Trash wasn't Cool]

Now that right there is a doublewide dawg, sho'nuff.

[Sue]

He's huge!!!!

[Faith]

That is a massive dogs, I think owning a Mastiff if you had the time and money would be absolutely awesome. They seem like such amazing dogs.

[Jill]

I once heard a world famous doctor talk about how everyone loves babies. Then he said to remember how cute that little baby was when he is a ten year old hellian. Same goes for dogs. Too many people don't think about what they are getting into when they decide what kind of dog they want. I've actually seen people adopt a greyhound and try to keep it in a small apartment. The masiff is a beautify dog, but I'll just stck with my little weiners...

[Tracey]

Whoa...that is one huge dog. I've got a mastiff cross and he's big enough for me.

[Dirty Butter]

The biggest dog I've ever seen in person is a St. Bernard, and from the looks of it, this Mastiff would make two of him. I can't even imagine owning a dog that large and having to feed him. Sorry, way too expensive for me.